Have you noticed water dripping from the relief valve or discharge pipe on your water heater? A leaking temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P or TPR valve) isn’t something you should ignore—but it also doesn’t necessarily mean you need to replace the valve right away.
Sometimes, small amounts of debris can prevent the valve from closing and sealing completely. In that situation, there may be a simple fix you can try before replacing anything.
In the video below, we’ll show you what a leaking water heater relief valve looks like and the first thing to try when you notice water dripping from it. If that doesn’t stop the leak, we’ll also walk through the process of replacing the valve, including how to choose the correct replacement for your water heater.
Replacing a T&P relief valve requires a few additional steps because you’ll need to safely shut down the water heater and lower the water level before removing the old valve. You’ll see the entire process demonstrated in the video, including removing the existing valve, installing the replacement, reconnecting the discharge pipe, and safely putting the water heater back into operation.
Because the T&P valve is an important safety component designed to protect your water heater from excessive temperature and pressure, it’s important to address a leak rather than simply plugging or capping the discharge line.
Watch the full video below to see what to try first and, if that doesn’t work, how to replace a leaking water heater relief valve from start to finish.